Martial Law 1953:
The first martial law in Pakistan was imposed in Lahore in 1953 when violent incidents happen between Qadyani’s and Muslims. During this Lahore riot things were getting serious and civil administration were not trusted to handle the matter therefore Governor-general Ghulam handed over the administration of city to army. Lieutenant general Azam Khan was leading Army in this Martial Law. This mini martial law started on 6th march and was lifted on 14th may 1953. During this Lahore riots movement Prime Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Nazimuddin was removed by Governor general Ghulam Muhammad.
Martial Law 1958:
The second martial law in Pakistan was imposed by President Sikandar Mirza 7th October 1958 when he appointed Commander in Chief of Army Ayyub Khan as Chief Martial Law Administrator. This was a stone breaking of military taking charge of government of Pakistan. Twenty days later Ayyub khan overthrown Sikander Mirza and become the president of Pakistan. He was the head of government and head state both at once. Public reaction on Ayyub khan’s Martial law was normal as they were tired of unstable governments in past 7 years and Pakistan needed to have a stable government but they didn’t know their generations will pay the price of this stone breaking of military interference. Ayyub Khan regime was also supported by foreign governments like government of United States. In his era the gap between East and West Pakistan reached to the point of no return, and on which later his predecessor put final stump by keeping powers in west Pakistan As Pakistan was still in early stages so he established many departments and Pakistan also appeared as an agricultural economy. Pakistan’s major dams were also constructed in this time period. In 1965 war started between Pakistan and India and its backlash along with labors strike in East Pakistan forced Ayyub khan to resign, so he resigned in 1969 and announced he will not participate in next elections.
Martial Law 1969:
In march 1969 Ayyub khan handed over the office to commander in chief of Army General Yahya Khan who immediately imposed martial law by dissolving assemblies. Yahya khan knew Ayyub Khan resignation background so any planning of ruling for long time would take himself from office. So he organized first general elections and Elections were won by Awami league leader Sheikh Mujeeb but general Yahya Khan refused to transfer powers to East Pakistan as a result of which people in East Pakistan demanded for separate homeland. Yahya khan ordered Army to use force in Bangladesh to tackle the situation but it got worsen and result in separation of East Pakistan. On 16th December 1971 East Pakistan was separated and on 20th of December Yahya khan handed over the government to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the first Pakistani civilian martial law administrator unless the constitution of 1973 was passed
Martial Law 1977:
July 1977 was the beginning of longest martial law in Pakistan when General Zia-ul-Haq Chief of Army Staff overthrown the government of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. General Zia-ul-Haq martial law was legitimized by supreme court through the doctrine of necessity. General Zia also hanged Bhutto on the alleged crime of killing an opponent. Afghan war was a major event in his era and along with Saudi Arabia and US Pakistan participated in the war against USSR in Afghanistan. In 1988 August Zia-ul-Haq Chapter was closed as he died in a plan(C-130) crash and like many head of state to this date his death is ambiguous.
Martial law 1999:
The master of last chapter of Pakistan’s military dictatorship was General Musharraf who overthrown PM Nawaz Sharif. Due to Kargil war and many other differences Nawaz sharif planned to retire General Musharraf but General Musharraf succeeded against him. Just like General Zia he was also determined to hang Nawaz Sharif, but foreign pressure stopped him from implementing such actions. Musharraf era’s biggest disaster was the mishandling of terrorism where he let US to enter and complete operations against terrorism but US and Pakistan Army both killed many civil families as well especially US drones killed many families in the tribal areas of Baluchistan and KPK which raised terrorism in the country In 2007 he declared emergency again after establishing assemblies for which was penalized to high treason and death, but he fled from country to save himself from consequences.
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